Property & Agriculture
Reception
For those in the Blundellian Community
from Property & Agriculture related professions
Programme:
12.00 Noon Arrival, Welcome Drink Reception
12.35pm Welcome from the Head – Nicola Huggett
12.45pm
14.00pm
Buffet Lunch
Introduction of Guest Speaker by James Bullock (P 81-86)
14.05pm
Address by David Fursdon
14.30pm
Optional Tours of the School
or Exhibition of Memorabilia in the Beale Centre
15.00pm
1st XV Rugby v Edinburgh Academy – Big Field
15.00pm
Tea & Exhibition in the Beale Centre
David worked at Blundell’s as a Master teaching Geography in 1979 to 1984 and went on to become
one of Blundell’s Governors and finally Chairman of Governors until 2011. David is also a rural
Chartered Surveyor. He runs his own historic family property in Devon and carries out advisory work
in rural estate management. David is a Crown Estate Commissioner with a rural and energy brief as
well as being on the Audit and Remuneration Committees. He chairs the South West Chamber of
Rural Enterprise and the South West Rural and Farming Network. He is a member of the Duchy of
Cornwall Rural Committee. He chairs DEFRA’s “Future of Farming” group.
David chaired the CLA (Country Land and Business Association) Board (2003) and then the CLA
Council as President (2005-2007). Other roles included the Board of the Historic Houses Association
since 2003; the DCMS Heritage Protection Steering Group and the DEFRA/DCLG Affordable Rural
Housing Commission in 2006. He has previously worked in the civil service, teaching and as a partner
in a firm of auctioneers and land agents.
David was appointed as an English Heritage Commissioner in 2010. He became Chair of the Business
Committee in September 2011, is a member of the Finance Committee, a Commissioner Director of
English Heritage Trading Ltd and Deputy Chair of the Designation Review Committee.
David at Blundell’s Speech Day 2011
David & his wife, Catriona in front of Fursdon House
MENU
Main Course
Poached Dressed Salmon
Baked Devonshire Gammon Ham
Smoked Trout and Prawn Platter
Coronation Chicken
Waldorf Salad
Crunchy Coleslaw
Caesar Salad
Greek Pasta Salad
Green Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
Roasted Baby Potatoes with Herbs and Garlic
Baker’s Basket Roll Selection
Dessert:
White Chocolate and Strawberry Cheesecake
with Clotted Cream
Individual Fresh Fruit Eton Mess
Coffee and Mints
Wine from Jolly Vinter
White
Terres D'Artagnan 2012
Red
Terrasse du Moulinas 2012
Wine can be purchased at £10 a bottle in the Foyer.
Blundell’s Connections with Property & Agriculture
Old Blundell’s was sold in 1882
Blundell's School, founded in 1604, was maintained for the first three hundred years of its existence solely by the
profits from its properties in the town of Tiverton and, more importantly, from the large rural estate of West Prawle
in south Devon.
When Blundell’s moved out to Horsdon in 1882 the first suggested use of Old Blundell’s was as Tiverton’s Lunatic
Asylum, an idea that was immediately rejected. Thomas Ford, a local brewer, bought the site and turned it into six
residential dwellings. In 1939 the Old Blundellian Club began an appeal to purchase Old Blundell’s, and the deeds
were finally handed over in 1946. However, the financial implications of owning such a property soon became
apparent, and in 1954 the property was handed over to the National Trust, in whose care it remains.
The School has always benefited from a constant influx of children from farming families, and during the 20th
century it boasted a flourishing Agricultural Society among its activities.
Blundell’s is still rich with Property and Agriculture connections as you can see from today’s reception.
Blundell’s Chickens!
Blundell’s Biology Department also
houses six chickens which are located
around the Biology Building. They
keep the Common Room in constant
supply of fresh eggs.
Check them out on your tour!
Charlotte & Lewis with Russell &
Randall.
Photo Courtesy of APEX
The Head Boy & Girl (2012), Charlotte Routledge
(NC 06-13) & Lewis Steer (FH 06-13) revived a
Blundell’s tradition in their final term at school keeping pigs! This was once a perk of being Head
Boy and Lewis and Charlotte decided to
reintroduce the custom.
After seeking permission and the permits
required, two saddleback cross pigs arrived in the
summer term and were named Russell (after the
famous 18th century sportsman Parson Jack, a
former pupil) and Randall (after the recently
retired Second Master). The pigs were quartered
near Westlake and had a very sociable time,
receiving regular visits during break times, before
and after school and for biology lessons.
National Young Shepherd of the Year
Blundell’s pupil Jack Aldridge (OH Y9) was recently crowned
National Young Shepherd of the Year for the second year
running. Jack, who lives on Exmoor, took part in the
prestigious Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s competition held at
the Newbury Show and walked off with both the Junior
Champion and overall Championship title.
Winning the title was the culmination of an amazing season
for Jack; despite having had no involvement with sheep until
he was nine, he has taken seven breed champion or reserve
champion awards for his Oxford Down sheep at shows during
2013.
Upcoming Events
17th
London Dinner 2013
Comedian, Dom Holland
8th November - Blundell’s London Dinner, Oxford & Cambridge Club.
Tickets Available from the Development Office
17th January - Blundell’s Comedy Night with Dom Holland and Bob Mills.
Big School; 8pm. Tickets available from the Main Office
10th March - Property and Agriculture Career Mentoring for pupils,
Beale Centre; 6.15pm -8.00pm.
And God said, Let there be light:
And there was light
GREAT Lord of wisdom, life and light,
Before the hills were founded
Thy quickening breath dissolved the night
And stirred through deeps unsounded
Beneath Thy hand the formless earth
And ocean rolled asunder,
And in Thy likeness man had birth,
They crowning work and wonder.
Through that grey dawn Thou calledst him,
Untaught but not unheeding.
His feet were fain, his lamp was dim,
Yet faith discerned Thy leading.
Age after age and line on line
Thy Book unfolded clearer,
Till, like a flush of morn divine,
Thy Son proclaimed Thee nearer.
His word from East to Slumbering West
Went out through all creation;
Our far off island woke and blest
Thy name with adoration.
We knelt where our forefathers knelt,
Thy trod these courts before us,
Unseen, though near, our hearts love felt
Their blessings hover o’er us.
We Praise Thy Name for one and all
Who founded for Thy glory
Each ancient School, each Minster Tall,
To teach their sons Thy story.
May we, like them, our Lamp display
Of love and wisdom burning.
Till twilight melt in golden day
At our dear Lord’s returning. Amen.
A.L. Francis
Head Master 1874-1917